Morning journal and courier., 1887-07-30
The Disaster at Zug.

The Geneva correspondent of the London Daily News sends fuller account than any hitherto published of the terrible and extra ordinary disaster at Zug, the town overlook ing the lake of the same name.
 Some time ago the town constructed at a cost of one hundred and twenty thousand francs new quay bordering the lake, and carrying @ road fringed with handsome houses, including hotel. A few days since it was noticed that cracks had appeared in different parts of the road but no alarm was felt until the Tuesday afternoon, when an extensive crevasse made it's appearance at the end of the quay. Before the alarm could be given, however, about eighty feet by thirty feet of the road suddenly collapsed and dis appeared in the lake, causing a veritable whirlpool. A cafe close by. and which was crowded at the time, was left standing on the very edge of the broken part of the road, where the waters were boiling up as if lashed by tremendous storm. In wild alarm the people fled from the cafe only just in time to save their lives, for hardly had the last man got clear before forty feet more of the road, together with the cafe disappeared in the swirling waters. So suddenly and un- expeetedly had the accident occurred that people were bewildered and terror stricken. One of the lake steamers, crowded with pas- sengers, was approaching the pier, which without warning sank out of sight, to the consternation of those on board the vessel As some people were seen to be struggling in the water two boats approached to render assistance, but getting into the vortex they were both sucked down, and only one man was with difficulty saved. When the people who had witnessed the accident recovered from their panic they set to work to try and rescue anyone who might still be alive in the water, and also to clear the furniture and EaIuables out of the houses that were men aced. An immense crowd had by this time been attracted to the spot and made the work of salvage very difficult. A number of carts, however, were procured and into these the furniture and other articles were piled. Sud- denly cry of "Save yourselves!" was heard more houses were seen to totter and then fall over into the lake, while large slice of the road disappeared, carrying with it several of the laden carts, as well as a number of the spectators, who in the frantic struggle were unable to get clear, and were drawn down into the vortex and perished before aid could be rendered to them. Among the houses thus destroyed was the Hotel Zurcherhof, but fortunately the people had had sufficient warning and escaped. About eleven o'clock another section of the road disappeared, and with it three more houses, though, as the in- habitants had been duly warned, no lives were sacrificed. Altogether some twenty sever or thirty houses have entirely disap- peared, while twice this number are still menaced, including the Hotel de Vile, re- gently erected at cost of three hundred thousand francs. A large number of houses abutting on the quay are also in danger and have been abandoned. It is impossible to estimate at present the exact loss of life. Some reports set it down at upwards of 8 hundred, while others say that between fifty and seventy persons have perished, including several children. The cause of the disaster is not yet determined, but it is supposed to be due either to shock of earthquake or to the waters of the lake undermining the road. The loss will considerably exceed million francs.